Shelagh and Mary Hodgson
We’re deeply grateful to organizations like the Cancer Research Society for funding the essential research that drives progress. We hope our story encourages others to join in supporting this critical cause.
A Mother and Daughter’s Journey: Hope Through Research
Shelagh’s Diagnosis
Shelagh and Mary Hodgson’s journey, as mother and daughter, magnifies the importance of advancements in cancer research and the hope they bring to those affected by this disease.
“In 2001, at the age of 63, I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. This is a very aggressive cancer with a fairly low rate of cure. My prognosis was that I would live for 18 months to 2 years! Fortunately, I had wonderful oncologists at every stage of aggressive treatment. It was a rocky road, but as the years passed, I felt more and more that I had beaten the odds. I was so loved and supported by my family, my friends, and my support group that I feel it is because of them, and organizations like the Cancer Research Society, that I survived.”
A Shared Journey
But, in 2019, something unexpected happened. Shelagh’s daughter Mary, then at the age of 50, and herself, then at the age of 81, both received a breast cancer diagnosis. Being a breast cancer survivor, Shelagh knew the difficult road ahead, but as a mother, extremely close to her daughter, she was more concerned for Mary than anything else. It is through advancements in research that Shelagh and Mary were able to face their diagnoses head on and together. Thankfully, because of many years of persistent scientific progress, more and more personalized treatments were on the rise, offering new promising possibilities for a potential cure for both of them. These advancements in personalized treatments, tailored to the individual’s physical constitution and mental well-being, gave Shelagh and Mary renewed hope.
“My daughter’s diagnosis was very different than mine, and so she needed a different treatment. When I was diagnosed back in 2001, the treatments weren’t as personalized. It’s thanks to research that cancer care today is much more tailored to the individual.”
Discovering Meaning Through Cancer
Today, Shelagh and Mary reflect on the many advancements made in cancer research and the positive impact that these advancements, as cancer survivors, have had on their lives. They both recognize how their shared journey has reshaped their perspectives. Shelagh and Mary feel strongly about the significant value of research in overcoming cancer. This plays an important role in being there to support one another, physically and emotionally, because it is through research that hope is possible.
A cancer diagnosis makes life more meaningful. Everyday counts, and you learn to live in the moment. It really changes your perspective on what matters. You begin to appreciate the little things and those you love even more. And, importantly, the more you know, the better prepared you are. That’s where cancer research comes in. It gives us the tools to understand our diagnoses and to have hope.
A Hopeful Future
Although this shared journey has had a strong physical and emotional strain on Shelagh and Mary, they remain ever optimistic.
“Sadly, Mary and I know many people who have not had the recovery that we have. Just this past year, we lost my dear brother to cancer. He believed, as do we, that cancer can be beaten! This is why we must support all the wonderful people who are working tirelessly to better outsmart cancer. Great advances have been made in the treatment of many cancers, especially in the realm of personalized treatments, and more are just around the corner.”
Their experiences are a testament to how far cancer research has come, offering tangible hope to those affected by the disease. Shelagh and Mary are still here today, telling us this beautiful story, thanks to the critical advancements made in research across Canada.
“We’re deeply grateful to organizations like the Cancer Research Society for funding the essential research that drives progress. We hope our story encourages others to join in supporting this critical cause.”